Drapery fixture



i atented Dec.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in drapery fixtures and constitutes an improved form of the invention disclosed in my patent on a Drapery Fixture, No. 2,470,422, issued May 17, 19419.

The general purpose of the invention is to make possible the hanging of a drape in the manner disclosed in Figure 1 herein. As explained in my prior application, I employ a plurality of drapery fold spreading elements which are mounted adjoining the upper corners of a window frame shaped and spaced apart so that when a drape .is properly engaged with them it will assume the contours shown in the accompanying drawings. These spreader elements comprise wires or rods especially bent to yield the desired contours and the present invention is concerned with an improved mounting for the spreader elements.

One object of the present invention is to provide an assembly including a supporting bracket having convenient means for securing and supporting one end of each of the spreader elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the assembly a bracket for supporting the spreader elements which permits the spreader elements to be manually adjusted to various spaced apart positions, without the use of tools, but which is adapted to retain the spreader elements in adjusted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fixture of the class described which may be most conveniently mounted upon a window frame and adjusted relatively thereto.

Other objects of the invention will be specifically alluded to hereinafter or will become apparent from aperusal of the specification and drawings.

In the drawings, wherein a preferred embodi-. ment of the invention is illustrated,

Figure 1 represents an elevational view of a drape hung with the aid of the device herein shown;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of one of the drapery fixtures, for example the one employed at the left side of the window;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same fixture, shown mounted upon a window frame;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the fixture shown in Figure 2.

Referring further to the drawings, a vertical portion of the window frame is shown in part in Figure 3 and is there designated Hi, this usually being a wood member, and in the present case 2 located at the left margin of the window frame. Usually such frames are also provided with another wooden member or trim member designated 1 I herein which extends across the top portion of the window frame at the inner surface thereof.

The left hand fixture, which is shown in the drawing, comprises a plate or bracket having a vertical portion l2, which may be secured to the frame member If) by means of screws, I3, is, and i5. The screw l3 also passes to a hole provided in a guide member generally designated as It and which comprises a vertical leg ll having a plurality of perforations 18, any one of which may be positioned relatively to the plate i2 to be engaged by the screw 13. For example, if the frame member l I be somewhat higher relatively to the position where the plate i2 is desired to be secured than is shown in Figure 3, the leg 5'! may be slid upwardly and the screw i3 engaged with one of the lower holes. This guide member also includes the horizontal bent portion it, an-

other vertical portion 20, a horizontal portion 2 i,

and an upwardly bent flange portion 22, having a perforation through which may be extended a screw 23 which in most cases would carry a decorative piece such as 24 at its outer end. The general purpose of this guide member will be explained hereinafter.

The bracket I2 has a horizontally extending fiange 25 and a downwardly extending flange 25 formed integrally therewith. A suitable slot not readily designated herein but whose location may readily be perceived is provided in the flange 25 through which the vertical leg ll of the guide member may extend.

The spreader elements are generally similar, but are individually curved somewhat differently from each other to facilitate extending the folds of the drapes, for example, in the manner shown in Figure 1.

In the-present disclosure, I have shown five of these spreader elements having the vertically extending portions 21, 28, 29, 30, and 3i. Integral with the vertical leg 2? of the first spreader element is a horizontal portion 21' whose inner end is firmly clamped between the horizontal flange 25 of the bracket and. a grooved clamping plate 32. The spreader which has the vertical leg 28 has a horizontal portion 28' whose inner end is likewise clamped between the flange 25 and the clamping plate 32. The succeeding spreaders having vertical leg 29, 30, and 3 I have horizontal portions 29, 30', and 3|, all of which are clamped between the flange 25 and the clamping plate 32. Screws such as 33 are employed to tighten the clamping plate against the flange 25, a suitable groove being provided in the clamping plate at the position of each horizontal spreader leg. The horizontal legs of the Spreaders are held very firmly gripped by the clamping plate, but may nevertheless be rotated manually by exertion of a reasonable amount of force, yet are so firmly gripped that they will not be counterrotated by the Weight of the drapery folds.

It has been stated heretofore that the fixture shown in the drawings is the one intended for mounting at the upper left hand corner of the window frame. It will readily be understood that the fixture designed for mounting at the upper right hand corner of the window frame will have the same general design in principle, but will be designed with opposite curvatures in the spreaders and the bracket, of course, will be designed for convenient mounting in the space available at the right hand margin of the frame.

In the use of the invention the two brackets are mounted at the upper opposite corners of the window frame, as explained, and a single sheet of drapery material, which may be perfectly rectangular in shape, is arranged in gathered folds and laid over the horizontal flanges 2| of the two guide members H5 at the opposite sides of the window. The screw 23 as shown in Figure 3, or some other inwardly extending element serving a similar purpose may be employed to clamp the gathered folds of the drapery material downwardly against horizontal member 21. When it is thus properly clamped, the top fold of the drape can be thus held properly in a straight line as indicated in Figure l. ignated herein as 3 4 Other folds extending across the top of the window may be relaxed somewhat and allowed to hang in curves as indicated in Figure '1. At the left hand margin of the window, the gathered folds of the drape which are carried over the member 2| are then inserted individually between the horizontal spreader members 2'2 23f, 29 36, and 35. These horizontal spreader members extend outwardly from the plane of the window frame a few inches, in order that the drapery fold may have a depth of several inches, which is customary. The fold furthest to the left will then be carried along and downwardly to embrace the vertical spreader portion 21, this fold being given a slight curvature at its upper end, asindicated in Figure 1, the fold itself being designated astb.

The other folds successively positioned inward ly toward the center of the window are positioned about the other spreader legs 2 8 to 31, inclusive, and each of them is given the curvature indicated in Figure 1, having first adjusted the spreader eIeInentsZB; to 3 inclusive, somewhat as shown in Figure 2,

In Figure 3, I have shown by the dotted lines the approximate position of the front, rear, and top margin of a'drape when it is mounted upon the fixture shown in Figure 3, the line 36 showing the margin of the drape, which is closest to the window frame, line 31 showingthe top surface of the gathered horizontal folds,'and'line 38 showing the front vertical margin of the folded drape. From this it may be perceived that the screw 23 can be employed to pinch the top fold against the guide member 2]. It shojuld'be understood, however, that some other convenient clamping means may be employed for that p urpose.

Thereafter the righthand fixture willbe covered by the drapery folds'in similar manner.

' It should bunderstoodthat theamount of in- This fold is desward flaring which the operator may give to the drapery folds by means of this fixture is properly the subject of individual taste, and depends somewhat upon the dimensions of the particular window being draped. Accordingly each of the spreader elements whose legs are numbered 21 to 3|, inclusive, may be adjusted manually at the time the drape is being hung by the operator, and the clamping plate 32 will assure that these spreader elements will remain in adjusted position.

Each entire fixture may be made of metal or other suitable material and the spreader elements are most conveniently made from wire stock, although other materials may be employed. Readily available wire sizes are readily formed, and may be bent further by the individual user if desired, and while supported only at their inner ends between the clamping plate 32 and the flange 25 nevertheless are suificiently supported. It may be noted that the. downwardly extending flange 26 is also perforated as shownv in Figure 2 to admit the inner ends of the horizontalmembers 21' to 3i inclusive into clamping position between the plate 32 and flange 25.

The drawing and specification disclose and-describe a preferred commercial form of the invention, the broader aspects of which are claimed in my prior application. It should be understood however that the present invention is susceptible of some variations in details ofconstruction differing from the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invent-ion:

1. In a drapery fixture of the class described, a bracket member having a vertical portion and means for securing the sarneto a window frame, a horizontal flange extending outwa dl from the plane of the, bracket, a plurality of drapery fold spreader elements each having a vertically extending downwardly curved portion and a horizontally extending portion, means for clamping the inner ends of said horizontal portions. to the horizontal flange of said bracket in spaced apart positions, and means connected with the bracket for supporting and gripping gathered foldsof a drape above the level of the horizontalportions 0f the spreader elements, saidhorizontal portions being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the curved portions, the horizontal and curved portions of adjoining spreader elementsdefining spaces for the individual reception of separate drapery folds for holdingthe' folds in curved formations controlled by said spreader elements.

2'. A drapery fixture of the class describedcomprising a bracket member and means for securing the same to a window frame, a plurality of drapery fold spreader elements each having a horizontally extending portion and depending therefrom a vertically extending downwardly curved portion, and meansgripping andsupporting the inner endsof the. horizontal portionsof said elements upon said bracket member in spaced apart positions parallel with each other, said means being connectable with said elements, to allow axial rotational adjustment of said horizontal portions for thereby varying the relative positions and spacing, of said, curved portions, said horizontal portions being substantially-pep pendicular tothe plane of the curvdportions, the horizontal and curved portions of adjoining spreader elements definingspaces fortheindividual reception of separate drapery folds for holding the folds in curved formations controlled by said spreader elements.

3. A drapery fixture of the class described comprising a bracket member and means for securing the same to a window frame, a plurality of drapery fold spreader elements each having a horizontally extending portion and depending therefrom a vertically extending downwardly curved portion, and means including a pair of clamping plates supported on said bracket for gripping the horizontal portions of said elements in spaced apart positions, said horizontal portions being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the curved portions, the horizontal and curved portions of adjoining spreader elements defining spaces for the individual reception of separate drapery folds for holding the folds in curved formations controlled by said spreader elements, said clamping plates retaining said horizontal portions in mutually parallel relation and being adjustable to release said horizontal portions for axial rotation to thereby vary the spacing of the associated curved portions.

4. A drapery fixture of the class described comprising a bracket member having a portion securable to a vertical margin of a window frame, a plurality of drapery fold spreader elements each having a vertically extending downwardly curved spreader portion,'and means adjustably supporting said elements on said brackets for individual adjustable rotation relatively thereto including spaced apart horizontally extending arms indi vidually connected with said spreader portions and said bracket for rotation about their horizontal axes.

5. A drapery fixture of the class described comprising a bracket member and means for securing the same to the margin of a window frame upon a vertical surface thereof, a plate extending horizontally outwardly from said bracket member, a clamping member having 'a plurality of horizontally extending parallel spaced apart grooves and means for adjustably clamping the same against said plate, and a plurality of fold spreader elements each having a downwardly extending and curved portion for retaining and imparting curvature to downwardly extending folds of a drape, said spreader elements each having a horizontal end portion substantially perpendicular to the plane of said curved portion and frictionally gripped in one of said grooves, said clamping means being adjustable to allow axial rotation of said horizontal portions for thereby varying thel -relative spacing only of their associated downwardly curved portions.

v6. A drapery fixture of the class described comprising a bracket member and means for securing the same to the margin of a window frame upon a 'vertical surface thereof, a plate extending horizontally outwardly from said bracket member, a clamping member having plurality of horizontally extending parallel spaced apart grooves and means for adjustably clampin the same against said plate, plurality of fold spreader elements each having a downwardly extending and curved portion for retaining and imparting curvature to downwardly extending folds of a drape, said spreader elements each having a, horizontal end portion substantially perpendicular to the plane of said curved portion and frictionally gripped in one of said grooves, said clamping means being adjustable to allow axial rotation of said horizontal portions for thereby varying the relative spacing only of their associated downwardly curved portions, a guide member supported on said bracket extending outwardly therefrom above said horizontal portions for'furnishing horizontal support for a drape, and. means for clamping a drape upon said guide member.

MILDRED B. WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 428,555 Dom May 20, 1890 1,057,310 White Mar. 25, 1913 1,732,162 Griner Oct. 15, 1929 2,409,425 Falkenberg Oct. 15, 1946 2,470,422 Wright May 17, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 286,049 GreatBritain Mar. 1, 1928 

